Is ‘hope’ helpful or a hinderance? Implications for coastal governance

Carmen Elrick-Barr; Timothy F Smith; Dana C Thomsen

doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2023.106953

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Is ‘hope’ helpful or a hinderance? Implications for coastal governance

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Is ‘hope’ helpful or a hinderance? Implications for coastal governance

Carmen Elrick-Barr, Timothy F Smith and Dana C Thomsen

Ocean & Coastal Management, Vol.248, pp.1-5

2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2023.106953

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Abstract

integrated coastal zone management

climate change adaptation

coastal governance

hope

transformation

Projected population growth and climate change paint an increasingly bleak picture for many coastal communities and their already threatened ecosystems. Yet, coastal managers and residents provide expressions of hope. In this short communication we reflect on the findings of a four-year research project examining coastal governance in rapidly growing Australian coastal communities. Practitioners shared their perspectives on current coastal governance approaches and were hopeful that sought-after goals would be achieved. However, hopefulness contrasts with self-reported barriers to change and limited evidence of transformative action. Thus, we ask whether hopefulness is misplaced, and a barrier to change, or whether hope remains a necessary precursor to transformative action. We find it is both: hope can provide a vision for a resilient future and a beacon towards the challenge of creating novel, exciting, and equitable futures. Yet, hope is insufficient unless accompanied by actions for resilient social and ecological communities. Hope without action is baseless and exacerbates vulnerability by limiting proactive responses, squandering valuable time, and further weakening systems. The findings have relevance in responding to global environmental challenges by distinguishing between ‘hope that helps’ versus ‘hope that hinders’ in the governance of complex systems.

Details

Title: Is ‘hope’ helpful or a hinderance? Implications for coastal governance
Authors: Carmen Elrick-Barr (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Sustainability Research Cluster
Timothy F Smith (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Sustainability Research Cluster
Dana C Thomsen (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Sustainability Research Cluster
Publication details: Ocean & Coastal Management, Vol.248, pp.1-5
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Date published: 2024
DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2023.106953
ISSN: 1873-524X; 0964-5691
Data Availability: The data that has been used is confidential.
Grants: Coastal Governance: Embracing Vulnerability and Change, FT180100652, Australian Research Council (Australia, Canberra) - ARC
Organisation Unit: School of Law and Society; Sustainability Research Cluster
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99982895402621
Output Type: Journal article